Around Here Magazine

Beavers: The Great Sierra Builders

By Donald L. Fink

Autumn in the Sierra has always been a special time and place for me. Every year, as long as I can remember, I've made a trip to the Sierra, just to check on things; to make sure everyone was ready for winter.

Last October, my wife Bonnie and I placed our camp along Highway 88, east of Silver Lake on the north side of the highway where a part of the old road bed is easily accessible. Snow had already fallen and we were anticipating some outstanding photographs. The aspens were on fire with yellow leaves and the tops were just beginning to turn bright red. Our timing was almost perfect.

The beaver,Castor Canadensis

On our second evening, we had driven over Carson Pass to Markleeville, shooting images of aspens in their fall colors. On the way back, we had just passed Hope Valley Resort when I noticed some downed aspens. I could see they were felled by a beaver because of the cut along the stumps. "Nothing unusual here," I thought. " Beavers used to be common in the Sierra. But wait! This aspen tree lying on the ground still had leaves on it!"

I turned my truck around and made my way back to the spot along the road between Hope Valley Resort and Sorenson's, directly across the river from Kit Carson Campground. Sure enough, the aspen tree was on the ground along with many others, and there was evidence of the aspens being dragged into the water at various points.

The river was slow, so I knew I would find a dam further down. As I walked along the bank, I could see the aspen trees in the water; leaves still attached and ready for the winter ahead. Someone had been very busy here. Soon we found the lodge. A large stick structure on the northern side of the river near the bank. It appeared to be six feet in diameter at the water line, and probably four or five feet tall. The dam was near the lodge. It spanned the width of the river at a place that was maybe 25-feet wide and was almost six feet tall, making a deep pool on the upstream side. It's difficult to know just how much pressure was on the dam from the water upstream, but the structure was magnificent.

As we stood in the almost dark forest, ............

To read the rest of this story on the fascinating beaver, pick up the Fall 1996 issue of Around Here Magazine. And to make sure you don't miss any other great stories and features, we invite you to subscribe to Around Here.

Back issues of Around Here Magazine are available.

This article is reprinted from the summer issue of The Interpreter, the Eldorado National Forest Interpretive Association Newsletter.

AROUND HERE HOME

Publisher - WestWord * Editor - Linda Warner Hanf
P.O. Box 737, Shingle Springs, CA USA 95682
530-676-HERE (4373) * Fax: 530-676-1508
editor@aroundheremagazine.com